It is of course staggering that this high-powered organisation got its figures wrong by more than 50 per cent.

However, I was equally surprised by the lack of reference to the recently announced NATS (National Air Traffic Service) consultation.

This, as is well known, will be looking at proposals for the whole Terminal Control North region (ie. not just Heathrow but covering East Anglia and the South East). Noise issues will be central to its concerns.

It would have been far better if BAA had waited for the publication of its findings - and indeed liaised with the NATS authorities - to produce something that would really show the way ahead.